US11832714B1 - Cleaning tool for string trimmers - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning tools are mounted directly to rotary spindles of conventional string trimmers. The cleaning tools have brush channels which extend through one or more sides thereof, with each brush channel having an edge channel and a bristle channel. The edge channels are disposed interiorly within the body of respective ones of the bristle channels. Channel brush inserts are secured in respective ones of the brush channels, and each includes a mounting base and a bristle body. The mounting bases are inserted into respective ones of the edge channels and the bristle bodies extend from a respective one of the mounting bases through the bristle channels, from the one or more sides and exteriorly of the cleaning tool. One cleaning tool has three brush channels formed to extend into a laterally extending sidewall. In another cleaning tool the brush channels are formed to extend into the bottom end surface thereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to cleaning tools, and in particular to cleaning tools for scrubbing, stripping, and burnishing indoor and outdoor surfaces, such as floors, walls, baseboards, parking lots, building exteriors, monuments and benches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning products such as brushes, pads, and cleaning solutions have been developed which may be used for cleaning surfaces such as floors, walls, baseboards, streets, parking lots and parking garages, the outside of buildings, bridge surfaces, and stone and cast concrete structures. Typically, high speed rotary equipment for cleaning such surfaces provides speeds up to about 3,500 rpm and rotary equipment for cleaning at such speeds tends to be heavy and cumbersome to use, as well as costly. Such higher speed rotary equipment is typically handheld and does not lend itself well to cleaning floors, baseboards, parking surfaces. Such equipment places the face of the operator in a less safe position as compared to the new tools. A solution is desirable which is relatively inexpensive, readily available and capable of cleaning floor and ground level surfaces and places the user in a safer standing position away from the action of the tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Novel cleaning tools for use with string trimmers are disclosed which allow users to clean floors, baseboards, and ground level surfaces while comfortably disposed in standing positions and with cleaning surfaces having rotary speeds ranging from 7,000 rpm to 15,000 rpm. The cleaning tools are mounted to rotary spindles of the string trimmers and have a body of a general cylindrical shape. The bodies each have a centerline axis about which a mounting aperture extends, a first stop surface for engaging a lock plate, and a second stop surface for engaging a lock nut with the respective body disposed there-between. The lock plate and the lock nut are threadingly secured to a rotary spindle for frictionally securing the body in fixed position for rotating with the rotary spindle. One or more brush channels extend through one or more sides of the body, with each brush channel having an edge channel and a bristle channel. The edge channels are disposed interiorly within the body of respective ones of the bristle channels. Channel brush inserts are secured in respective ones of the brush channels. Each channel brush insert includes a mounting base and a bristle body. The mounting bases have widths that are larger than the widths of the bristle bodies. The mounting bases are inserted into respective ones of the edge channels and the bristle bodies extends from respective ones of the mounting bases through the bristle channels, from the one or more sides of the body, and exteriorly of the body. The rotary spindle is rotated at desired speeds to rotate the body and move terminal ends of the bristle body of the channel brush insert against a surface for cleaning the surface. In one embodiment, the body has three brush channels formed to extend into a laterally extending sidewall of the body, and the brush channels are axially spaced apart equal distances about the central axis of the body. The edge channels are disposed equal distances from the central axis of the body. In another embodiment, the brush channels are formed to extend into the bottom end surface of the body, and are spaced apart equal distances across the bottom end surface. The mounting bases extend transverse to the axis of rotation of the spindle for the string trimmer. Lock screws are disposed in terminal edges of respective ones of the edge channels for threading securing adjacent to the mounting bases of respective ones of the channel brush inserts and securing the inserts within respective ones of the brush channels on horizontally mounted Channel Brushes. The Vertically mounted brushes do not require a lock screw since the faceplate of the trimmer covers and captures the top side of the channel brushes thus securing the channels completely. Preferably the bodies of the cleaning tools are machined from solid aluminum bar stock or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with the use of industrial adhesives for an enhanced level of capture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in whichFIGS.1 through16 show various aspects of several cleaning tools for string trimmers made according to the present invention, as set forth below:

FIG.1 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a string trimmer and a cleaning tool having laterally extending brushes;

FIG.2 is an exploded view of the cleaning tool ofFIG.1;

FIG.3 is a top view of the cleaning tool brush body ofFIG.1;

FIG.4 is a sectional view of the cleaning tool brush body, taken along section line4-4 ofFIG.3;

FIG.5 is a perspective view of a channel brush insert having a bundle of brush bristles;

FIG.6 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool having downwardly extending brushes provided by channel brush inserts;

FIG.7 is a perspective view of the cleaning tool brush body ofFIG.6 with the channel brush inserts removed;

FIG.8 is a bottom side view of the cleaning brush body ofFIG.7;

FIG.9 is a sectional view of the cleaning tool brush body ofFIG.7, taken along section line9-9 ofFIG.8;

FIG.10 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool having multiple bristle inserts which are spread across and extend downward from the bottom side of the cleaning tool brush body;

FIG.11 is a sectional view of the cleaning tool having multiple bristle inserts taken along section line11-11 ofFIG.10;

FIG.12 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool having a flat bottom side for mounting buffing pads and grinding sheets;

FIG.13 is a sectional view of the cleaning tool having a flat bottom side taken along section line13-13 ofFIG.12;

FIG.14 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning tool having two parts, one being a head for mounting to the drive shaft of the string trimmer and the other being a removable brush having bristle inserts;

FIG.15 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning tool body and locknut; and

FIG.16 is a sectional view of the cleaning tool body and locknut taken along section line16-16 ofFIG.15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1 is a partially exploded, perspective view of astring trimmer12 and acleaning tool32 having laterally extendingbrushes38. Thestring trimmer12 has amotor housing14, ashaft16, agrip handle18, aguard20 and adrive head22. Adrive shaft spindle12 is shown extending beneath thedrive head22 and is connected by a drive shaft extending through theshaft16 to a drive motor located inmotor housing14 in conventional fashion. Also conventional for string trimmers is alock plate26 and alocknut28 for fixedly securing tools to thedrive shaft24 for rotating relative to thedrive head22 about arotational axis25. Thenut18 is preferably provided by a hex-head socket nut. Acleaning tool32 is shown disposed between thelock plate26 and locknut28 for securing to thedrive shaft24. Thelocknut28 has internal threads which are screwed onto exterior threads formed on thedrive shaft24. Thelock plate26 also has interior threads which screwed onto thedrive shaft24 and thelock plate26 is tightened against the top of thecleaning tool32, with the top of thecleaning tool32 providing a stop surface for thelock plate26. This presses thecleaning tool32 against the locknut which is also threadingly secured to thedrive shaft24. This provides a frictional engagement which secures thelock plate26, thelocknut28 and thecleaning tools32 in fixed positions relative to thedrive shaft24.

FIG.2 is an exploded view of thecleaning tool32 having laterally extending brushes provided bychannel brush inserts38. Thechannel brush inserts38 are strip brushes which have amounting base68 from which abristle body62 extends. Thecleaning tool32 also has abody34 having a cylindrical shape and a longitudinally extending,central axis30. The longitudinally extendingcentral axis30 is coaxially aligned with therotational axis25 of thedrive shaft24. Thebody34 may be formed of molded materials but preferably is machined of a solid stock material such as aluminum to provide for improved dynamic balancing over molded materials. Thebody34 is shown having three slots which definebrush channels40 that extend parallel to thecentral axis30 and into the peripheral circumferential edge of thesolid body34. Thebrush channels40 have radially inward portions defining edge channels42 which are sized for receiving and capturing respective ones of themounting bases68. Thebrush channels40 also havebristle channels48 which extend from the edge channels42, radially outward to the peripheralcircumferential edge31 of thebody34. Amounting aperture36 extends through the center ofbody34, coaxial with thecentral axis30.

FIG.3 is a top view of thebody34 of thecleaning tool32. The cylindrical shape of thebody34 defines the peripherally and circumferentially extendingedge31, which also extends laterally downward, perpendicular to the plane of the top view. Threebrush channels40 are shown axially spaced equal axial distances around thecentral axis30. Threebrush channels40 are shown, but other embodiments may include a lesser number or a larger number ofbrush channels40, such as, for example, four of thechannels40 or two of thebrush channels40, spaced equal axial distances around the longitudinally extendingcentral axis30. In one embodiment two of thebrush channels40 are provided to extend on opposite lateral sides of thebody34. (Not shown).

FIG.4 is a sectional view of thebody34 of cleaningtool32, taken along section line4-4 ofFIG.3. One of thebrush channels40 is shown having the edge channel42 for receiving a mountingbase68, and having a bristlechannel38 for passing thebristle body62. The edge channel42 has astop edge44 defining the lower end for locating the mountingbase68 of thechannel brush insert38 within the edge channel42. Similarly, thebristle channel48 has as astop edge50 defining the lower end ofchannel48 for locating the mountingbase68 of thechannel brush insert38 within the edge channel42. Thebrush channels40 have open tops46. The upper end of the edge channel42 may be threaded to have internal threads for threadingly securing alock screw60 to retain the channel brush inserts38 within the brush channels. Preferably the upper portion of the mountingbase68 will be removed to accommodate thelock screw60. (Not shown). Thelock screw60 may be provided by an Allen head set screw, a headless screw for receiving a hex shaped Allen key. The mountingaperture36 is shown having anarrow portion54 for fitting about thedrive shaft24, and an enlarged portion56 for receiving the body of thelocknut28. The mountingaperture36, thenarrow portion54 and the enlarged portion56 are coaxial withcentral axis30. Alocknut stop58 is provided for butting the terminal end of the locknut against while thelock plate26 is butted up against the top terminal end of thebody34. This frictionally engages and non-rotatably secures thebody34 to thedrive shaft24. The upper edges of the channel brush inserts38 preferably fit flush with the upper surface of thebody34.

FIG.5 is a perspective view of achannel brush insert38 having a bundle of brush bristles64 which collectively define a bristlebody62. Thechannel brush insert38 is often called a channel brush or a strip brush. Thebristles64 end along a plane to define an outerterminal edge66 for thebristle body62. Thebristle body62 has aninward end74 with an inward terminal edge (not shown) which is disposed within a cavity of the mountingbase68. The mountingbase68 has opposite taperedsides72 which extend from an outwardterminal end70 of the mountingbase68. Theinward end74 of thebristle body62 is fixedly secured within the mountingbase68 but either crimping with the taperedsides72, molding into themounding base68, or securing with an adhesive, or a combination thereof.

FIG.6 is perspective view of acleaning tool78 having downwardly extending brushes provided by a plurality of channel brush inserts80. The channel brush inserts80 extend downward from thebottom end82 of abody84 of thecleaning tool78. Thebody84 is shown with fourparallel brush channels86, providing slots through one lateral side and thebottom end surface82 for receiving the channel brush inserts80. More or less than fourbrush channels86 may be provided, and in some embodiments thebrush channels86 may not be parallel. Thebrush channels86 haveedge channels88 for receiving respective mountingbases68 and bristlechannels90 for receiving respective bristlebodies62. Thelock screw60 is shown threadingly secured into a tapped (threaded) portion of the upper end of theedge channels88.

FIG.7 is a perspective view,FIG.8 is a bottom side view, andFIG.9 is a sectional view taken along section line9-9 ofFIG.8 of thebrush body84 of thecleaning tool78 ofFIG.6 with the channel brush inserts80 removed. Two of thebrush channels86 extend into one lateral edge of thebody84 and two of thebrush channels86 extend into a lateral edge on an opposite side of thebody84 from the other two of thebrush channels86 to enhance dynamic balancing of thecleaning tool78. Thebrush channels86 extend through thebottom edge surface82 of thebody84. The mountingaperture92 extends through a central portion of thebrush body84, perpendicular to the bottom and the top of thebody84. The mountingaperture92 has anupper portion96 for receiving thedrive shaft24, and alower portion94 for receiving thelocknut28. Thebody84 is shown in an upside-down position inFIG.9. Alocknut stop98 is provided in thelower portion94 of the mounting aperture. The sidewalls of thelower portion94 are preferably configured to provide a square-shaped cross-section for capturing the head of thelocknut28 to prevent rotation of thelocknut28 relative to thebody84. Two lock holes100 are provided on opposite lateral sides of thebody84 for receiving screw driver tip, such as for a phillips head screw drive. A steel pin or a metal nail may also be inserted into either of the lock holes100. The lock holes100 allow for torque to be applied for either rotating or holding thebody84 against rotating as thebody84 is mounted to thedrive shaft24 with thelock plate26 and thelocknut28 shown inFIG.1. Thebody84 preferably has ahead portion106 with a cylindrical shape having a lower end face from which the channel brush inserts80 extend, and aboss104 which is of a cylindrical shape which is of smaller diameter than that of thehead portion106. Theboss104 is mounted to thestring trimmer12 ofFIG.1 such that it is located adjacent to thedrive head22.

FIG.10 is a perspective view of acleaning tool108 having abody110 having a cylindrically shapedbrush head112. Bristle inserts116 are mounted into the lower face of thebrush head112, and are preferably either provided by solid molded single bristles or by a tufted collection of bristles formed of synthetic or natural fibers. The bristle inserts116 are secured within mountingholes118. Thebrush head112 preferably has aflat bottom surface122 from which the working end of the bristle inserts116 extend.

FIG.11 is a sectional view of thebody110 of thecleaning tool108, taken along section line11-11 ofFIG.10. Thebody110 has the cylindrically shapedbrush head112 and a cylindrically shaped mountingboss114 disposed adjacent thebrush head112, preferably with the mountingboss114 disposed above thebrush head112. The mountingholes118 for the bristle inserts116 have tapered entrance ends120 to facilitate insertion of the bristle inserts116 and to extend wear life by reducing potential stress concentrations of thebrush head112 from engaging the base portions of the bristle inserts116. A mountingaperture124 is provided and has alocknut stop126 and a rectangular shaped cross section on the lower terminal end portion of the mountingaperture124 for capturing a square shaped head of thelocknut128. Thelocknut128 is preferably provided by a square-head socket nut. The rectangular shaped cross section on the lower terminal end portion of the mountingaperture124 is countersunk so that the head of thelocknut128 will be disposed above the plane of thebottom surface122 and will not engage a surface which is being cleaned.

FIG.12 is a perspective view of acleaning tool130 having aflat bottom surface138 for mounting buffing pads and grinding sheets, andFIG.13 is a sectional view of thecleaning tool130, taken along section line13-13 ofFIG.12. Thebody132 has the cylindrically shapedhead134 and a cylindrically shaped mountingboss136 disposed adjacent thebrush head134, preferably with the mountingboss136 disposed above thebrush head134. A mountingaperture140 is provided and has alocknut stop146 and a rectangular shaped cross section on the lower terminal end portion of the mountingaperture140 for capturing the square shaped head of thelocknut148. Thelocknut148 is preferably provided by a square-headed socket nut. The rectangular shaped cross section on the lower terminal end portion of the mountingaperture140 is countersunk so that the head of thelocknut148 will be disposed above the plane of theflat bottom surface138 and will not engage a surface which is being cleaned.

FIG.14 is an exploded perspective view of acleaning tool152 having two parts, one being a mountingboss154 for mounting to thedrive shaft24 of thestring trimmer12 and the other being aremovable brush head156 having bristle inserts168 mounted therein. Thecleaning tool152 is shown in an upside-down position inFIG.14, looking downward onto thecleaning tool152. The bristle inserts168 are preferably provided by either solid molded single bristles, or by a tufted collection of bristles formed of synthetic or natural fibers. Alocknut160 is preferably provided by a hex-head socket nut. Thelocknut160 secures the mountingboss154 to driveshaft24 with frictional locking forces provided by a backup retention of the lockingplate26 being threadingly secured to a portion ofdrive shaft24 located above the lower portion of thedrive shaft24 to which thelocknut162 is threadingly secured. A mountingaperture158 extends longitudinally through the center of the mountingboss154. The mountingaperture158 has an interior profile with a cross-section on the lowermost end which is hexagonally shaped for capturing a hexagonal shaped head of thelocknut160 to prevent rotation between the head of thelocknut160 and the mountingboss154. The mountingaperture158 preferably has an interior profile similar to that shown for mountingaperture180 to provide an annular-shaped flat similar to that of the locknut flat182 for thelocknut160 to butt-up against when tightened onto thedrive shaft24. Twobrush mounting apertures162 are disposed on opposite sides of the mountingaperture158. The lowermost terminal ends of the mountingapertures158 and162 extend into achannel170 which provides a recess from the lowermost surface of the mountingboss152 and the lowermost terminal ends of the mountingboss154 so that head of thelocknut160 will not interfere with mounting of thebrush head156 thereto. Thebrush head156 is secured to the mountingboss154 by means of the two threadedbolt type fasteners164 which preferably have exterior threads for threadingly securing to the tapped, or interiorly threaded, ends of the mountingapertures162 formed into the mountingboss154.

FIG.15 is an exploded perspective view andFIG.16 is a sectional view, taken along section line16-16 ofFIG.15, of acleaning tool body178 andlocknut184. Thecleaning tool body178 has mountingaperture180 for receiving thelocknut184 and capturing the head of thelocknut184. The locknut is preferably a socket type nut with a hex head for threadingly securing to the end of thedrive shaft24.Apertures186 are provided for mounting bristles which are either solid or formed of tufted fibers.

In operation various ones of the above cleaning tools are secured to the drive shaft spindle of a string trimmer. Thecleaning tool32 ofFIGS.1-4 may be used for cleaning baseboards and the like. Thecleaning tool78 ofFIGS.6-9 may be used for cleaning and polishing floors. Thecleaning tool108 ofFIGS.10-11 may also be used for cleaning and polishing floors. Thecleaning tool130 ofFIGS.12 and13 will accept cleaning and polishing pads for fitting over theflat surface138, and will also accept abrasive pads and other materials for mounting to thesurface138 for grinding surfaces. Thecleaning tool152 ofFIG.14 and thecleaning tool body178 may similarly be mounted to a string trimmer for cleaning and polishing various surfaces according to the present disclosure.

The present invention provides advantages of various cleaning tools for use with string trimmers. Conventional buffing and polishing pads typically operate at speeds up to 1200 rpm to 3200 rpm (revolutions per minute). With string trimmers burnishing may be accomplished with rotational speeds ranging from 7,000 rpm to 15,000 rpm by coupling to a spindle of a string trimmer a cleaning tool made according to the present disclosure.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning tool for mounting to a rotary spindle of a string trimmer comprising:

a body having a centrally disposed mounting aperture extending along a centerline axis of the body, the body having a first stop surface for engaging a lock plate and a second stop surface for engaging a lock nut with the body disposed there-between;

the lock plate and the lock nut being threadingly secured to the rotary spindle of the string trimmer and frictionally securing the body in a fixed position for rotating with the rotary spindle;

the body having one or more brush channels extending parallel to the centerline axis through one or more sides of the body, wherein the one or more brush channels each include an edge channel and a bristle channel, with each of the edge channels disposed interiorly within the body of a respective one of the bristle channels for receiving a respective channel brush insert;

the channel brush inserts each including a mounting base and a bristle body having laterally extending bristles that end along a plane to define an outer terminal edge of the bristle body and having an inward end with an inward terminal edge disposed within a cavity of the mounting base, wherein the mounting base has a larger width than a width of the bristle body, and the mounting base is inserted into one of the edge channels and the bristle body extends from a respective one of the mounting bases through one of the bristle channels, from the one or more sides of the body, and exteriorly of the body;

and wherein the rotary spindle is rotated at desired speeds to rotate the body and move terminal ends of the outer terminal edge of the bristle body of the channel brush insert against a surface horizontally outward from the bristle body for cleaning and polishing the surface, the surface comprising one of a baseboard and a floor.

2. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 1, further comprising the brush body having three brush channels axially spaced apart equal distances about the centerline axis of the body, and wherein the edge channels are disposed equal distances from the centerline axis of the body.

3. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 2, further comprising lock screws disposed in terminal edges end of the edge channel for threadingly securing the mounting bases of respective ones of the channel brush inserts and securing the channel brush inserts within respective ones of the brush channels of the body.

4. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 1, further comprising each of the bristle bodies of the channel brush inserts comprising a plurality of individual bristles secured in a respective mounting base.

5. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 1, further comprising the body having a lowermost end with rounded edges along an exterior of a bottom surface of the body.

6. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 1, further comprising the body being machined from a solid stock of aluminum.

7. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 1, further comprising the mounting aperture having a narrow portion for receiving the rotary spindle and an enlarged portion for receiving the lock nut, wherein the second stop surface for engaging with the lock nut is annular-shaped and defined between the narrow portion and the enlarged portion of the mounting aperture.

8. A cleaning tool for mounting to a rotary spindle of a string trimmer comprising:

a body having a generally cylindrical shape and a centrally disposed mounting aperture extending along a centerline axis of the body, the body having a first stop surface for engaging a lock plate and a second stop surface for engaging a lock nut with the body disposed there-between;

the lock plate and the lock nut being threadingly secured to the rotary spindle of the string trimmer for securing the body in a fixed position for rotating with the rotary spindle;

the body having a lateral sidewall with one or more brush channels extending parallel to the centerline axis through the lateral sidewall of the body, wherein the one or more brush channels each include an edge channel and a bristle channel, with each of the edge channels disposed interiorly within the body of a respective one of the bristle channels for receiving a respective channel brush insert;

the channel brush inserts each including a mounting base and a bristle body having laterally extending bristles that end along a plane to define an outer terminal edge of the bristle body and having an inward end with an inward terminal edge disposed within a cavity of the mounting base, wherein the mounting base has a larger width than a width of said bristle body, and the mounting base is inserted into one of the edge channels and the bristle body extends from a respective one of the mounting bases through one of the bristle channels, from the lateral sidewall of the body, and exteriorly of the body; and

wherein the rotary spindle is rotated at desired speeds to rotate the body and move terminal ends of the outer terminal edge of the bristle body of the channel brush insert against a surface horizontally outward from the bristle body for cleaning and polishing the surface, the surface comprising one of a baseboard and a floor.

9. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 8, further comprising the brush body having three brush channels axially spaced apart equal distances about the centerline axis of the body, and wherein the edge channels are disposed equal distances from the centerline axis of the body.

10. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 9, further comprising lock screws disposed in terminal edges end of the edge channel for threadingly securing the mounting bases of respective ones of the channel brush inserts and securing the channel brush inserts within respective ones of the brush channels of the body.

11. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 8, further comprising each of the bristle bodies of the channel brush inserts comprising a plurality of individual bristles secured in a respective mounting base and extending through the lateral sidewall of the body.

12. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 8, further comprising the body having a lowermost end with rounded edges along an exterior of a bottom surface of the body.

13. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 8, further comprising the body being machined from a solid stock of aluminum.

14. The cleaning tool for mounting to rotary spindles of string trimmers according toclaim 8, further comprising the mounting aperture having a narrow portion for receiving the rotary spindle and an enlarged portion for receiving the lock nut, wherein the second stop surface for engaging with the lock nut is annular-shaped and defined between the narrow portion and the enlarged portion of the mounting aperture.

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